My nine-year-old son is going to be spending the summer with his grandparents in Sittah October and I am going to miss him so much!! I need to stay in NY to finish my book and my husband will be with our son for June but then he needs to go work in Turkey (long story).

Anyhow, my son has a high-functioning form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome and he forgets skills quickly. He is really bright, but has had to struggle with this all his life (being able to help him more here is one of the reasons we moved back to the US). I want him to spend the time with his grandparents and cousins (they all love him so much!), but I am worried that he will back track on a lot of the accomplishments he has from this year..

SO, if anyone knows of a tutor for any of the following skills that could meet with him in Six October City, PLEASE let me know. He loves to swim and is starting karate (we are members of the nady, so hopefully we can find instructors/classes there). He also plays viola and will take his with him there. And most importantly, if there is a patient and loving person who would work with him on third-grade reading and math skills a few hours a week, it would make a HUGE difference.

Finally, if ANY of you would mind just calling him a few times and chatting in English with him a bit, I'd really appreciate it. I know he will have fun but I also want him not to back-track in English (last time I was away for the summer he really did). I am planning on web-camming with him regularly, but feeling like a "friend of mama's" is around will be comforting to him I know.

Thanks and God bless you. It is so nice to watch/listen to the community online.

I fully understand your concerns. My son which will turn five was early in life diagnosed with possible Asperger's Syndrome or some mild form of Autism.

But the doctors were wrong, whatever it was, he came out of his "bubble" and started finally to communicate with the world. We as parents where so helpless of how to deal with him, what the future will hold for him. I cried myself many nights to sleep.

Our son is still severe speech-delayed, attending a special needs program, has problems to adjust to changes but he's getting there. We are so much relieved be the progress he did within the last year.

http://www.autismuk.com/index18.htm